'We're not making good decisions' - Kallis

Jacques Kallis has said that Kolkata Knight Riders' inability to sustain a good performance throughout 20 overs is one of the main reasons for their poor performances recently.

Knight Riders are fifth in the points table with two wins from seven games, and they have lost four successive games including their last one against Rajasthan Royals where their chase unravelled from 121 for 0 to 123 for 6 in two overs. Kallis, who was left out of the match against Royals, called the collapse "a shock to watch" and said the game against Delhi was as good as a "must-win" one.

"If a team isn't making good decisions there is no point in denying it, and we aren't. We need to start finding ways to get over the finish line because we are running a good race most of the way," Kallis wrote in his column. "I haven't done the math and, like the rest of the squad, I am not allowing myself to be distracted by the league table but I guess there is probably a 'must win' feeling about Wednesday's game against Delhi Daredevils. Having won only two out of seven games each, both teams are desperate to get onto a winning roll."

Dwayne Smith credits Robin Singh for subcontinent success
Chennai Super Kings opener Dwayne Smith, who is currently second on the list of leading run-getters in IPL 2014, has credited Mumbai Indians' assistant coach Robin Singh for his success on Indian tracks. Smith played two IPL seasons for Mumbai Indians and had a good run last year, scoring 418 runs in 13 games at 32.15. This season, Smith has already scored 335 runs in seven matches with four half-centuries.

"I did a lot of work with Robin Singh and I respect him a lot," Smith said. "Unfortunately he is not with us in Chennai but he has done a lot of work with me and I thank him a lot for what he has done, especially in the subcontinent," Smith said. "I would credit Robin for working with me, especially helping me get control of my game. To survive in international cricket or any type of cricket you need to score runs. And you can't score runs just by smashing it around. In between you have to work around the singles and twos to keep the scoreboard ticking."

Bowl without fear in T20s, says Harbhajan
After his 2 for 33 put the brakes on the Royal Challengers Bangalore chase in Mumbai on Tuesday, Harbhajan Singh said that bowling in the T20 format demanded fearlessness.

Harbhajan dismissed the Royal Challengers openers Chris Gayle and Parthiv Patel after the pair had given their side a brisk start. Their wickets slowed Royal Challengers down and they eventually finished 20 short of the 188-run target.

"In this format, you cannot save yourself and think that you won't go for runs. You will go for runs, but at the same time, you have to have the courage to accept the challenge and bowl without fear," Harbhajan told iplt20.com "You have to take those risks and that is what I look to do. When I was bowling to Gayle tonight, I was only planning to get him out rather than giving him a single. I knew if he would have batted till the 16th over, the game would be out of our hands. The best way to keep batsmen quiet is by trying to get them out rather than being defensive."

Well said Bhajji, how i wish you had this attidue in Tests as well. In recent tests that you played unfortunately you were saving runs and waiting for a mistake rather than attacking which was your game when you picked all those 350 test wickets. Its in the later part you got more defensive and prevented scoring. Get that agression with your bowling back and I bet you will be an asset to the Test team

CricketMaan
on May 7, 2014, 10:58 GMT

Well said Bhajji, how i wish you had this attidue in Tests as well. In recent tests that you played unfortunately you were saving runs and waiting for a mistake rather than attacking which was your game when you picked all those 350 test wickets. Its in the later part you got more defensive and prevented scoring. Get that agression with your bowling back and I bet you will be an asset to the Test team

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CricketMaan
on May 7, 2014, 10:58 GMT

Well said Bhajji, how i wish you had this attidue in Tests as well. In recent tests that you played unfortunately you were saving runs and waiting for a mistake rather than attacking which was your game when you picked all those 350 test wickets. Its in the later part you got more defensive and prevented scoring. Get that agression with your bowling back and I bet you will be an asset to the Test team